.BX/^TISTICA’- 


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THE 

WEST  INDIES 

CONFRONT 

CHRISTIAN  AMERICA 

^  h  ■ 


Revelations  From  Washington,  D.  C. 


World  Citizenship  Series 

Room  904 

437  Fifth  Avenue.  New  York  City 


TEEASUKE  ISLAND”  and  kindred  books, 
as  well  as  stories  of  the  tyranny  of 
European  exploiters,  together  with  the 
highly  sensational  press  reports  of  endless 
revolutions  in  certain  islands,  have  created  in  the 
minds  of  the  American  public  an  altogether  false 
impression  of  the  West  Indies. 

In  place  of  the  blood-thirsty  pirates  portrayed 
in  the  story  books,  there  are  dwelling  in  the  very 
houses  which  tradition  peopled  with  the  buccaneers 
of  the  Spanish  main  a  peace-loving,  simple-minded 
people  whose  ancestors  were  reading  the  classics 
and  engaging  in  trade  with  Europe  on  terms  of 
equality  when  the  rest  of  America  was  still  a 
howling  wilderness.  Even  in  those  islands  where 
public  opinion  has  pictured  bandits  lurking  behind 
every  palm,  and  a  revolution  staged  to  awaken  the 
tourist  each  morning,  the  excitable  and  ambitious 
people  no  longer  carry  as  side  arms  a  cutlass  and  a 
brace  of  dueling  pistols. 


POE  generations  there  has  been  an  increasing 
tide  of  emigration  from  the  West  Indies  to 
the  States,  but  world  events  have  given  a 
new  phase  to  this  situation.  The  rising 
race  consciousness  of  small  nations  has  caused  these 
people  to  question  whether  America  has  really 
much  to  offer  that  is  superior  to  their  own  civiliza¬ 
tion,  which  boasted  great  and  beautiful  cities  and 
a  famous  university  at  a  period  when  the  rest  of 
the  American  continent  was  inhabited  by  savages. 
While  a  reluctant  statement  may  be  secured  from 
them  that  moral  standards  and  sanitation  may  not 
be  what  they  should  be,  it  is  hard  for  these  people, 
who  possess  the  culture  and  dignity  of  the  old 
world,  to  have  their  religious  and  physical  im¬ 
provement  bear  the  imprint,  ‘‘Made  in  America.” 


Thus  a  new  element  enters  into  the  task  which 
confronts  Christian  America.  Only  such  churches 
as  are  untainted  with  nationalism  will  be  able 
to  proclaim  acceptably  the  pure  Gospel  of  that 
Master  who  recognized  no  distinctions  of  race, 
color  or  language.  A  church  possessing  a  member¬ 
ship  among  all  nations  and  preaching  the  Gospel 
in  every  known  tongue  would  be  best  prepared 
to  interpret  the  true  spirit  of  America,  a  country 
that  has  among  its  inhabitants  citizens  from 
every  government  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and 
so  approaching  most  closely  the  ideal  of  world 
citizenship. 


2 


IX  the  re])orts  presented  to  the  epoch-makin,^^ 
Convention  at  Washington,  1).  C.,  the  great 
and  niarvelons  opportunities  that  confront 
Christian  America  were  revealed.  The  gener¬ 
ous  resj)onse  to  the  recpiest  for  a  larger  su]iport  of 
the  various  agencies  of  the  church,  as  well  as  the 
clear-cut  declaration  of  principles  adopted  without 
a  dissenting  voice,  gave  evidence  that  the  Church 
of  the  pure  Cospel  had  received  the  vision  of  world 
service  and  was  ready  to  follow  the  call. 


Since  many  will  have  neither  time  nor  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  read  the  lengthy  but  inspiring  reports 
that  came  from  every  corner  of  the  earth  to  the 
delegates  at  Washington,  the  West  Indies  Mission 
Hoard  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church  in  America, 
Inc.,  resolved  to  ])uhlish  this  brief  summary  of  its 
report  to  the  Convention. 


OW  IT  CAME  ABOUT.  This  Board  is 
also  the  result  of  a  merger,  having  now  in 
its  charge  the  work  of  the  “Board  of  Mis¬ 


sions  for  Porto  Pico  and  Latin  America’’ 
of  the  Oeneral  Council  and  “The  Board  to  Care 
for  the  Lutheran  Churches  in  the  Virgin  Islands’’ 
of  the  same  body. 


Tlie  work  in  Porto  Rico  may  l)e  said  to  have  begun 
with  the  entrance  of  the  victorious  American  troops  dur¬ 
ing  the  Spanish-Ainerican  \Var,Aince  the  first  Lutheran 
services  were  held  at  that  time.  U])on  this  beginning  a 
substantial  foundation  has  been  laid  during  the  past 
two  decades.  During  the  years  that  this  work  waa 
under  the  careful  administration  of  the  General  Council 
Hoard,  it  is  just  that  we  should  testify  to  the  great 
interest  and  active  support  of  the  Swedish  Augustana 
Sgnod,  from  which  Itody  most  of  the  missionaries  were 
recruited.  Although  Augustana  did  not  enter  the  United 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  merger,  it  has  generously 
continued  its  sup])ort  of  oni'  work  and  sends  representa¬ 
tives  to  the  Board  meetings. 


3 


The  work  of  the  church  in  the  Virgin  Islands  can  be 
traced  back  about  270  years  to  the  time  of  the  Danish 
occupation.  Official  church  records  are  preserved  in 
Denmark  extending  over  a  period  of  almost  two  cen¬ 
turies.  One  of  our  most  beautiful  church  buildings 
on  the  Island  of  St.  Croix  has  been  in  continuous  use 
for  170  years,  and  another  for  128  years.  This  field 
came  under  the  care  of  the  American  Church  after  the 
islands  were  purchased  by  the  United  States  in  1917, 
and  today  $150,000  would  not  replace  the  property 
turned  over  by  the  Danish  National  Church. 

Porto  Rico 

The  field  in  Porto  Rico  at  present  comprises  two 
districts,  with  centers  at  San  Juan  and  Bayamon.  The 
growth  during  the  past  few  years  is  such  that  a  third 
district,  with  an  American  pastor,  has  become  a  neces¬ 
sity.  This  need  has  been  filled  since  the  Convention, 
the  Rev.  Hans  Naether,  A.M.,  of  the  German  Iowa  Synod, 
having  accepted  a  call,  and  as  soon  as  he  has  mastered 
the  language,  will  take  charge  of  the  third  district.  In 
the  meantime  he  is  taking  care  of  all  our  English  work 
in  Porto  Rico. 

SAN  JUAN.  In  charge  of  this,  the  oldest  district, 
is  the  missionary  longest  on  the  field,  the  Rev.  Alfred 
Ostrom,  D.D.  He  and  his  devoted  wife  have  done  heroic 
service  for  fifteen  years.  The  jirincipal  work  of  this  dis¬ 
trict  is  centered  at  Puerta  de  Tierra,  where  we  have  an 
imusually  beautiful  church  and  parsonage  with  all  mod¬ 


ern  conveniences,  valued  at  $.30,000.  In  this  building 
two  congregations  worshij),  with  separate  and  distinct 
congregational  organizations,  Sunday  Schools  and  Luther 
I.eagues.  One  is  the  First  English  Congregation,  the 
oldest  organization  on  the  field;  and  the  other,  St.  Paul’s 
Spanish  Congregation,  organized  in  1900.  There  is 
attached  also  to  this  center  a  station  at  (iondul  with  a 
Sunday  School  and  weekday  services.  Another  center 
of  this  district  is  the  old  section  of  the  city  of  Ran 
Juan,  where  services  have  been  held  in  rented  (juarters 
ever  since  our  church  entered  Porto  Rico.  From  this 
center  two  out-stations  were  conducted,  LaPerla  and 
Marina.  The  other  center  is  Catano  and  Palo  Seen. 
The  organized  congregation  at  Catano  has  two  out- 
6tations,  San  Tomas  and  Sahano.  ’Plie  organized  work 


4 


Street  scene 
in  old  San 
Juan,  where 
for  a  quarter 
century,  ser¬ 
vices  have 
been  held  in 
rented 
rooms. 


A  patio 
where  the 
s  ervices  of 
an  out-sta- 
tion  are  con¬ 
ducted. 


at  Palo  ^eco  has  as  its  out-stations  Punta  Salinas  and 
Las  Palmas,  the  latter  of  which  was  abandoned  when 
the  landlord  razed  the  village.  In  his  district  Dr. 
Ostroni  has  been  assisted  until  recently  by  Paul  E.  ^V est 
in  the  English  and  Spanish-English  work,  and  by 
Demetrio  Texidor,  the  oldest  of  our  native  helpers,  but 
who  recently  resigned  and  whose  place  has  been  taken  by 
Sergio  Cobian,  formerly  at  Palo  8eco.  The  assistant  at 
Catano  and  Palo  Seco  is  Guillermo  Marrero.  The  parish 
visitor  is  Carmen  L.  de  Ilertumdez.  Mrs.  Ostrom,  to¬ 
gether  with  Miss  Sofia  Prohst  and  Miss  Emma  R. 
Schmid,  have  assisted  in  the  parish  work  in  this  district. 
The  statistics  for  the  8an  Juan  district  show  380  com¬ 
municant  members  in  the  four  organized  congregations, 
and  053  baptized  memljers  in  the  congregations  and  out¬ 
lying  stations.  The  nine  Sunday  Schools  have  a  mem¬ 
bership  of  770,  and  there  are  two  Luther  Leagues,  with 
a  coml)ined  meniljership  of  00.  The  people,  out  of  their 
poverty,  contrilmted  $1,575  toward  local  expenses.  The 
property  of  the  Board  on  this  field  is  valued  at  $40,000. 


Missionaries  on  Porto  Rico  Field  at  the  time 
of  Commissioners  visit 


5 


BAYA]\U)X.  This  district,  while  numerically  smaller 
than  San  Juan,  covers  a  far  greater  expanse  of  territory, 
and  without  an  automobile,  would  be  utterly  impossible 
of  supervision  by  one  missionary.  The  7»Vr.  Fred  IT. 
Liiulke  has  been  in  charge  of  this  district  since  coming 
to  the  held  in  1918.  lie  is  enthusiastically  supported  by 
Mrs.  Lindke,  who  teaches  the  Kindergarten  in  Bayamou 
in  the  forenoon  and  the  Day  School  at  Sion  in  the 
afternoon. 

The  chief  congregation  is  the  8(it)fis.<iimo  Trinidad,  at 
Bayamou.  In  another  section  of  the  same  city  is  the 
/S'io?!-  Congregation,  which  has  the  largest  Sunday  School 
in  our  Porto  Pico  held  and  where  recently  a  day  school 
has  been  established  that  taxes  the  capacity  of  the  build¬ 
ing.  The  assistant  in  these  congregations  is  Faliistiano 
H ermrndez.  The  parish  visitor  is  Roniona  Sotoniatior. 
Desiring  to  improve  the  deplorable  living  conditions  in 
this  district,  the  Board  is  seeking  a  nurse  or  Deaconess 
whose  Avorks  of  mercy  will  further  demonstrate  the 
power  of  Christian  love.  The  outlying  stations  of 
Bayamou — Pajnros  Sunday  .School  and  Jiaja  Foad  Sun¬ 
day  School — have  been  under  the  care  of  native  helper 
Jose  ('aixni.  At  Monacillo  is  the  Betania  Congregation, 
Juan  Zamhrana,  assistant,  with  the  outlying  stations — 
Jiian  Doinincjo  and  Juan  Velez  and  Ariiha.  The  work 
at  Toa  Baja  was  under  the  charge  of  llionisio  Miranda, 
who  died  of  pneumonia  in  IMarch,  1920,  during  the 


A  Country  Chapel  and  Sunday  School 


influenza  epidemic.  For  the  time  lieing,  this  work, 
together  with  the  outlying  station  of  Campanilla,  has 
been  attached  to  the  Dorado  field.  The  Dorado  work, 
under  (lerman  Vazquez,  has  the  three  outlying  stations 
of  Maracajio,  HiyuiUar  and  Fanta  Rosa.  The  statistics 
for  the  Bayamou  district  give  217  communicant  mem¬ 
bers  in  five  organized  congregations,  and  oSo  baptized 
members  in  the  congregations  and  outlying  stations 
The  thirteen  Sunday  Schools  have  a  membershi])  of 
1,104,  and  there  are  two  Luther  Leagues,  with  a  mem¬ 
bershi])  of  7o.  The  peo])le  of  this  district,  many  of  whom 
are  ])oor  country  peons,  contributed  .Stiah  toward  cur¬ 
rent  expenses.  'Che  ])ro})erty  of  the  Board  on  this  fiehl 
is  valued  at  $17,000. 

With  the  exception  of  the  English  congregation  at 
Puerta  de  'I’ierra,  the  services,  j)reaching  and  instruction 
in  all  districts,  are  conducted  in  the  Spanish  language. 


6 


Virgin  islands 

'File  five  congrejratioiis  on  tlie  islands  of  St.  Croix, 
St.  Thomas  and  St.  John  are  organized  somewhat  as 
])arishes  are  in  America.  In  place  of  the  paid  native 
helpers  of  the  other  fields,  the  j)astors  are  assisted  for 
the  time  being  hy  salaried  parish  clerks,  as  in  the 
Danish  time.  It  will  he  dillicult  to  ])repare  statistical 
tables  until  the  organizations  are  entirely  uniform  with 
those  in  America.  An  additional  diilicnlty  in  obtaining 
exact  statistics  is  the  constant  removal  of  members  to 
New  York  Cty,  whose  tenn)orary  absence  often  becomes 
permanent  without  notification  to  the  parish.  Onr  work 
in  Xew  York  City,  however,  will  soon  remove  this  dilii' 
cnlty.  The  last  census  gave  the  Lutherans  about  2,900 
of  the  population  of  the  Yirgin  Islands.  All  these  must 
necessarily  have  been  ba])tized  and  contirmed  in  our 
churches,  and  our  pastors  are  laboring  faithfully  to 
locate  all  whom  tlie  census  lists  as  Imtherans. 

FIIEDERIKSTKI)  AND  KING'S  HILL.  In  charge  of 
this  parish  is  the  Ifcr.  J.  ('.  Pedersen,  the  first  mission¬ 
ary  to  go  out  under  the  aTispices  of  our  Board.  While 
now  an  American  citizen,  Pastor  Pedersen  was  born  and 
educated  in  Denmark,  and  has  had  years  of  experience 
in  Africa,  Australia  and  North  America.  In  addition 
to  his  regular  services  in  tlie  two  congregations  of  the 
parish,  he  conducts  services  in  the  villages  of  the  estates 
and  regularly  at  the  Poor  Farm,  and  also  holds  frequent 
services  in  Danish.  Ilis  assistant  is  Clerk  Itegimild  Mac- 
Farlane.  The  beautiful  church  building  in  Frederiksted 
has  lieen  in  constant  use  for  over  a  hundred  years.  It 
stands  majestically  on  the  hillside,  a  landmark  for  the 
vessels  entering  the  harbor.  There  is  a  substantial  and 
comfortable  building  at  King’s  Hill.  In  addition,  the 
Frederiksted  Congregation  possesses  an  excellent  Mission 
or  Parish  House  known  as  Beihesda  and  an  Old  People’s 
Home  called  Snlem.  They  have  also  a  grant  of  three 
thousand  dollars  from  the  Danish  National  Church  for 
the  erection  of  a  parsonage. 

CHRISTIANSTED.  In  this  field  the  Rev.  George  IF. 
Critchlow,  ably  assisted  by  his  wife,  is  demonstrating 
that  there  is  no  dead-line  in  the  life  of  a  consecrated 
missionary.  The  projjerty  of  this  parish  consists  of  a 


magniticent  church  building  and  a  palatial  parsonage, 
together  with  the  property  known  as  Pleasant  Grove, 
where  is  located  an  Old  People’s  Home,  and  an  adminis¬ 
tration  building  used  by  parish  organizations,  in  which 
Mrs.  Critchlow’s  large  Bible  Classes  meet  during  the 
week.  This  parish  has  the  largest  young  people’s 
societies  in  our  West  Indies  field,  one  a  Luther  League 
and  the  other  a  girls’  society  under  Sister  Carrie,  the 
total  activ’e  membership  being  110.  In  addition  to  the 
regular  services  of  the  church,  Pastor  Critchlow  conducts 
services  regularly  at  the  Leper  Colony.  The  parish 
assistant  is  Clerk  Alexander  Creagh. 

ST.  THOMAS  AND  ST.  JOHN.  The  work  of  this 
parish  until  tVhitsunday,  1020,  was  most  efficiently 
done  by  the  Eev.  P.  Kastrup,  who  was  the  last  of  the 
pastors  supported  by  the  Danish  ^Missionary  Societies 
It  was  truly  a  Providential  guiding  that  enabled  the 
Board  to  secure  as  his  successor  the  Itev.  J.  P.  Christian¬ 
sen,  a  member  of  the  Hnited  Danish  Synod  in  America, 
who,  with  his  wife  and  child,  arrived  in  May,  1020,  and 
whose  work  from  the  very  beginning  has  been  greatly 
blessed.  The  church  building  at  Charlotte  Amalia  is 
very  large  and  beautifully  furnished.  Adjoining  it  is 
a  large  Mission  House,  or  what  would  be  known  in 
America  as  a  parish  house,  called  Bethany.  There  is  in 
connection  with  this  an  Old  People's  Home.  On  the 
side  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  harbor  and  ne.xt  to  the 
Governor’s  palace  is  the  parsonage,  giving  a  view 
unequaled  by  any  in  America.  The  Brotherhood  in  the 
congregation  at  St.  Tliomas  is  the  largest  men’s  organ¬ 
ization  in  our  church  in  the  West  Indies.  Clerk  Amos 
Benjamin  is  the  assistant.  In  connection  with  this 
congregation  is  the  work  at  St.  John,  a  small  island 


Ploughing  on  St.  John’s  Island 

having  less  than  a  thousand  population,  living  in  a  most 
primitive  state  without  any  connection  with  the  life  of 
the  world.  Clerk  Carl  E.  Francis  is  doing  excellent 
work  here,  regularly  conducting  services,  the  pastor 
coming  over  in  a  small  sailboat  when  possible. 

In  giving  the  summary  of  statistics  for  the  Virgin 
Island  field  it  is  difficult  to  state  the  value  of  property, 
as  most  of  it  was  erected  at  the  expense  of  the  Danish 
Government,  but  a  most  conservative  valuation  has 
shown  that  the  property  rights  which  the  West  Indies 
Jlission  Board  holds  in  the  Virgin  Islands  could  not 
be  secured  today  for  less  than  $150,000.  As  nearly  as 
can  be  calculated,  the  communicant  membership  in  the 
five  congregations  is  L-ihS,  and  the  baptized  membership 
is  1,985.  Tlie  Sunday  School  enrollment  is  920,  and  the 
contributions  of  the  peo])le  for  their  current  e.xpenses 
and  local  benevolence,  $5,076. 


8 


Institutions  of 
Mercy 

aNDER  the  Danish  rule  our  church,  being 
the  National  Church,  had  charge  to  a  great 
extent  of  the  civil  charities.  In  addition, 
many  public-spirited  people  in  Denmark, 
together  with  missionary  societies,  established  in¬ 
stitutions  under  the  church’s  control  in  which  the 
sick  and  poor,  and  especially  the  starving  and 
neglected  babies,  were  cared  for.  IMany  of  these 
worthy  charities  could  not  be  continued  by  our 
church,  through  lack  of  resources,  and  also  because 
under  the  American  Government  much  of  the 
work,  especially  that  of  visiting  nurses,  providing 
for  the  poor,  caring  for  the  insane,  and  the  train¬ 
ing  of  the  incorrigible,  are  spheres  of  activity  for 
the  civil  authorities.  The  Red  Cross  nurses,  the 
Poor  Farm  and  similar  institutions  are  at  present 
doing  effective  work  along  these  lines.  Our 
church,  however,  has  undertaken  to  continue  the 
work  among  the  neglected  babies,  the  orphans  and 
the  aged. 


Women  Coaling  a  Ship,  St.  Thomas 

CHILDREN’S  HOMES.  The  Queen  Louise  Homes  for 
Sick  and  Neglected  Babies,  supported  by  the  Danish 
Missionary  Societies,  with  excellent  buildings  in  Chris- 
tiansted  and  Frederiksted,  were  transferred  by  deed  of 
gift  to  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Council  on  condition 
that  this  work  of  charity  he  continued  without  regard 
to  race,  creed  or  language.  The  value  of  the  properties 
is  stated  in  the  deed  to  he  $9,500,  hut  they  could  not  he 
replaced  today  for  $30,000.  Within  the  past  year,  both 
Homes  have  been  completely  renovated  at  a  cost  of  about 
$2,000  each. 

These  Homes  have  a  capacity  of  about  sixty  cbildren 
each.  The  work  is  divided  into  three  departments — that 
of  a  sick  ward ;  that  of  a  day  nursery,  where  babies  are 
cared  for  whose  mothers  are  compelled  to  work;  and 
that  of  the  kindergarten.  In  the  midst  of  the  prevailing 
poverty  and  ignorance  of  the  ordinary  working  people 
it  is  unnecessary  to  state  that  the  Homes  are  usually 
filled  to  their  capacity. 


9 


8iste7'  Maren  Kiiudsen  has  consecrated  twelve  years  of 
self-sacrificing  labor  to  this  work,  and  is  the  only  one  of 
the  Danish  Deaconesses  to  remain.  She  is  in  charge  of 
the  Home  in  Frederiksted,  and  her  noble  work  has  won 
the  love  and  esteem  of  all. 

At  Christiansted  the  first  American  Deaconess,  Hister 
Carrie  (Jtck,  of  the  Baltimore  Motherhouse,  is  in  charge. 
She  entered  the  field  in  November,  lOlil,  and  from  the 
very  beginning  her  efficient  administration  has  met  with 
success.  In  addition  to  her  institutional  work  she  has 
assisted  largely  in  the  parish,  especially  in  the  Sunday 
School,  the  Luther  League  and  among  the  young  girls. 

EBENEZER  ORPHANAGE.  An  Orphanage  for  Girls 
is  the  most  blessed  of  charities  in  a  land  where  70  per 
cent,  of  the  births  are  illegitimate.  Lender  the  Christian 
influence  of  one  of  their  own  race.  Deaconess  Sister 
Emma  Fra^xcis,  these  orphan  girls  are  given  a  chance  in 
life  which  would  be  utterly  impossible  w'ithout  this  noble 
institution  founded  by  the  K.  M.  A.  (Women’s  Mission¬ 
ary  Society  of  Denmark).  The  property  was  valued  at 
fi:5,000,  Imt  could  not  be  replaced  today  for  $10,000.  It 
was  deeded  to  the  West  Indies  Mission  Board  on  the 
payment  of  a  mortgage  of  $2,000.  At  the  time  of  this 
I’eport  there  were  seventeen  girls  in  the  Home,  and  by 
their  faithful  co-operation  with  Sister  Emma,  have  been 
able  to  conduct  the  Home  on  a  very  economic  basis.  By 
their  own  labors  in  baking  bread  for  the  hospital,  they 
liave  been  able  to  provide  a  fund  for  needed  improve¬ 
ments  and  from  which,  also,  girls,  when  leaving  the 
■Grphanage,  are  given  a  proper  outfit  with  which  to  enter 
the  world.  L'nder  the  capable  guidance  of  Miss  Schoen, 
a  well-equipped  educator  from  the  States,  a  plan  for 
vocational  training  is  being  worked  out  by  which  the 
orphans  will  be  better  fitted  for  taking  their  place  in 
the  world. 

OLD  PEOPLE’S  HOMES.  Three  of  the  congregations 
in  the  Virgin  Islands  have  in  connection  with  their 
Mission  Houses  a  group  of  cottages  for  old  people. 
Tliese  are  rented  out  for  a  nominal  sum,  and  in  them 
the  occupants  may  keej)  house  according  to  their  own 
idea.  When  necessary,  they  are  provided  with  food  and 
clothing  by  the  congregation.  Since  the  establishment 
by  the  American  Government  of  the  Poor  Farm,  the  use 
of  these  Homes  will  be  restricted  to  the  poor  of  our  own 
congregations. 


Island  of  St.  Croix  “where 


Educational 


T^JNDLHdAirrKXS.  The  sphere  of  the 
Christian  kindergarten  hecomes  nnnsnally 
X  ]  important  when  primary  education  is 
'  shamefully  neglected  as  in  the  West  Indies. 
Even  in  Porto  Pico,  where  the  United  States  has 
spent  millions  to  raise  the  educational  standard 
and  where  Dr.  Miller,  the  untiring  Commissioner 
of  Education,  has  met  with  remarkable  success  in 
im])roving  the  puldic  school  system,  the  local  law 
makers  have  persisted  in  taking  one  backward  step 
after  another,  one  of  their  recent  enactments 
])lacing  the  school  age  at  ten  years. 


This,  however,  is  the  church’s  opportunity,  a 
chance  that  the  Poman  Catholic  Cdiurch  rejuven¬ 
ated  by  the  coming  of  the  Protestants,  is  not  slow 
to  take  advantage  of  and  with  her  hosts  of  Sisters 
will  soon  have  ])arochial  schools  in  every  center. 
Our  Church,  together  with  other  Protestants, 
hampered  by  lack  of  funds  and  workers,  stands 
Avith  hands  tied,  while  these  little  children,  Avhose 
future  could  so  easily  he  moulded,  run  Avild  amid 
the  immoral  environment  of  the  streets.  In  the 
Mrgin  Islands  the  public  schools  are  sadly  inade¬ 
quate,  and  outside  of  the  Avork  done  in  the  Luth¬ 
eran  kindergartens  practically  no  effort  is  being 
made  to  care  for  the  smaller  children. 

The  pioneer  service  of  our  missionaries  in  this  depart¬ 
ment  has  l)een  signally  blessed,  d/iss  Nanca  Sclioen, 
formerly  in  charge  of  the  kindergarten  at  Pnerta  de 
Tierra,  was  transferred  to  the  Virgin  Islands,  where  slie 
re-opened  the  Children’s  Home  at  Christiansted  and 
established  a  large  and  successful  kindergarten,  which 
has  since  been  carried  on  by  the  Deaconess  and  her 
assistant.  IMiss  Schoen  then  established  headquarters  at 
the  Ebenezer  Orphanage  to  develop  a  course  of  vocational 
training  for  the  orphans,  but  in  the  meantime  she 


■ileys  stand  thick  with  cane.” 


t  r 

A  Sunday 
pastime  in 
Porto  Rico 
that  does 
not  help  the 
Sunday  ^ 
Schools  J 


opened  a  kinderfrarten  in  Bethesda,  not  only  for  the 
inmates  of  our  Frederiksted  Cliildren's  Home,  hut  also 
for  all  the  children  of  the  i)arish. 

In  Porto  Rico,  Miss  Sofia  Prohst,  who  has  just  re¬ 
turned  from  a  furlough,  during  which  she  took  a  special 
course  of  training,  has  at  present  stipervision  of  the 
kindergartens,  of  which  there  are  three  in  operation — - 
the  one  at  Pueita  de  Tierra,  where  Miss  Catalina  Zam- 
hrana,  daughter  of  one  of  our  native  preachers,  has  been 
faithfully  carrying  on  the  work;  the  kindergarten  at 
Catano,  which  during  IMiss  Prohst’s  furlough  was  sus¬ 
pended;  and  the  kindergarten  at  Bayamon,  where  iirs. 
Lindke  aiid  her  native  assistant  have  met  with  remark- 


An  outdoor  Session  at  Bethesda,  St.  Croix 


able  success.  Our  kindergartens  are  so  filled  to  capacity 
that  often  the  morning  and  afternoon  sessions  have  en¬ 
tirely  dilTerent  pupils.  During  the  past  biennium  the 
average  enrollment  has  been  over  300. 

DAY  SCHOOLS.  The  Church  will  miss  one  of  its 
greatest  opportunities  if  it  does  not  at  once  establish 
day  schools  for  the  little  children  that  long  for  the 
education  now  denied  them.  Children  may  enter  the 
public  schools  under  ten  years  when  there  is  room,  but 
of  the  hundreds  who  aj)])ly,  those  who  are  best  ])rej)ared 
are,  naturally,  received  first.  A  day  school  opened  by 
Pastor  T.indke  in  Sion  Chapel  witnessed  a  remarkable 
scene  at  the  opening  session,  when  fathers  and  mothers. 


12 


Can  you  see  why  she  could  not  send  them  to  school  ? 
They  are  anxious  to  start. 


quitting  work,  brought  their  children  that  they  might 
plead  for  the  admission  of  their  little  ones,  crowding 
the  chapel  to  the  very  doors.  It  is  hoped  that  public- 
spirited  men  and  women  of  our  church  will  send  special 
gifts  direct  to  the  Board  for  this  work,  which  is  outside 
of  our  regular  activities  provided  for  in  the  apportion¬ 
ment.  P’ive  Dollars  will  provide  sufficient  training  for 
a  child  to  stand  first  chance  of  entering  the  public 
school  before  ten  years  of  age. 

Theological  Seminai'g.  The  con^'iction  that  native 
helpers  were  essential  for  permanent  success  led  mis¬ 
sionaries  on  the  field  to  make  several  attempts  to 
supply  that  need.  In  the  Virgin  Islands,  under  the 
Danish  rule,  the  office  of  clerk  was  established,  the 
duties  of  which,  in  addition  to  those  customary  in  the 
church  in  Denmark,  partook  largely  of  the  nature  of 
those  of  a  lay  reader  in  the  American  church.  In  Porto 
Rico  the  need  caused  the  missionaries  to  establish  a 
course  of  seminary  instruction,  an  action  that  received 
the  approval  of  the  Porto  Rico  Mission  Board,  and, 
through  it,  of  the  General  Council.  This,  however,  made 
no  provision  for  the  ordination  of  students.  But  the 
men  who  had  been  in  service  for  years,  possessing  better 
preparation  than  those  ordained  by  other  denominations, 
demanded  ordination.  In  order  to  obtain  a  solution  of 
this  problem,  the  Executive  Board  of  the  United  Luth¬ 
eran  Church  was  requested  to  consider  the  advisability 
of  giving  the  mission  boards  the  privilege  of  establishing 
the  grade  of  lay  readers  and  also  to  license  them  when 
properly  qualified.  An  exhaustive  study  of  this  subject 
by  that  board  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  rules  and 
regulations  which  it  is  hoped  will  meet  the  situation. 
Authority  was  also  granted  by  the  Executive  Board  for 
the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  devise  a  seminary 


13 


curriculum  tliat  would  jirovide  for  our  ])rcseut  needs 
and  at  the  same  time  maintain  the  standards  prevailing 
in  the  United  Lutheran  Church.  U])on  this  committee 
were  a])pointed  the  Rev.  Prof.  H.  E.  Jacobs,  D.I).,  ]>L.I)., 
the  Rev.  G.  A.  Tressler,  D.I).,  the  Rev.  1).  H.  Bauslin, 
D.I).,  LL.D.,  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Krauss,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and  the 
late  Rev.  Theodore  E.  Schmauk,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Charles  ^I.  Jacobs,  D.D.  This 
committee  has  outlined  a  ])relimiuary  course  for  a  Chris¬ 
tian  Training  School,  with  the  develoj)ment  of  the  Sem¬ 
inary  to  follow. 

I ndustrUiL  Vocational  training  is  a  natural  out¬ 
growth  of  the  aspirations  aroused  by  the  ideals  given 
in  the  Gospel.  A  begitining  has  been  made  in  this  work 
with  classes  for  the  training  of  girls  in  lace  making  and 
basket  weaving,  by  which  they  are  enabled  to  add  to 
their  scanty  income  and  somewhat  improve  their  living 


One  of  the  Lace  Classes 


conditions.  This  work,  less  than  a  year  old,  shows 
encouraging  promise,  due  chiefly  to  the  enthusiastic 
labors  of  Miss  Emma  R.  Schmid,  who  is  in  charge  of 
this  department.  The  course  of  instruction  which  IMiss 
Schmid  develoj)ed  from  her  own  experience  was  recently 
incorporated  in  the  vocational  course  of  the  public 
schools.  The  work  also  brought  her  in  touch  with  other 
Protestants,  and  so  impressed  are  some  of  the  leaders 
with  her  successful  efforts  among  the  laboring  class  that 
she  has  been  given  charge  of  the  administration  of  cer¬ 
tain  funds  winch  outsiders  have  juovided  to  establish 
milk  stations  for  the  children  of  the  poor. 

Calada  Fund.  This  industrial  training  is  an  out¬ 
growth  of  a  very  large  and  imjiortant  work  undertaken 
by  Mrs.  Alfred  Ostrum  on  her  own  initiative  some  years 
ago.  Having  been  asked  by  friends  to  send  them  I’orto 
Rican  diawn  work  and  laces,  she  was  led  to  recognize 
the  great  ])ossihilities  of  assisting  the  natives  by  furnish¬ 
ing  a  market  for  the  product  of  their  labors,  and  with 
painstaking  Jiianagement  she  developed  in  a  few  years 
a  business  that  l)roTight  in  many  hundred  dolhirs  whicli 
she  sj)ent  in  the  support  of  the  mission.  'I'his  work  has 
been  taken  over  by  the  Board,  and,  under  ^Mrs.  Ostrom’s 
ellicient  management,  bids  fair  to  become  an  important 
factor  in  the  future  development  of  tlie  field. 


14 


WOKlv  NEEDED 

The  Lepers.  ]Manv  do  not  realize  that  this 
dread  disease,  so  graphically  pictured  in  the  Scrip¬ 
tures,  is  still  a  terrihle  reality.  In  the  Island  of 
St.  Croix  the  naval  authorities  have  charge  of  a 
colony  in  which  these  unfortunates  are  cared  for 
and  where  our  church,  through  Pastor  C'ritchlow, 
has  furnished  regular  services  each  week.  In 
Porto  Pico  our  missionaries  have  done  their  part 
in  conducting  services  for  those  who  dwell  in  that 


“On  the  way  to  Leper  Island.” 

l)lace  of  horror  known  to  the  people  as  ‘‘The  Isle 
of  the  Diving  Dead.’’  The  exi)ense  of  the  sailboat 
to  reach  this  island,  together  with  the  little  gifts 
M'hich  the  missionaries  always  take  with  them,  has 
prevented  more  fre(|uent  visits  on  the  part  of  our 
workers,  ddie  printed  page  cannot  convey  the 
agonized  cry  for  help  that  comes  to  the  church 
from  those  who  are  so  shunned  hy  their  fellow-men. 

Santo  Domingo.  For  several  years  the  mission¬ 
aries  on  the  f’orto  Pico  held  have  ])resented  the 
urgent  call  from  Santo  Domingo,  where  quite  a 
numher  of  our  memliers  from  the  Virgin  Islands 
and  Porto  Pico  have  emigrated.  Logically,  this  is 
the  next  held  for  tlie  West  Indies  Board  to  enter, 
as  it  is  close  to  Porto  Pico,  uses  the  same  language, 
and  can  lie  sujiervised  from  that  held.  In  addi¬ 
tion  to  this  nucleus  we  have  also  the  advantage  of 
the  protection  of  the  United  States  Government, 
for  while  Santo  Domingo  is  a  re]mhlic,  its  custom 
houses  are  under  the  control  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  country  is  practically  under  military  occu¬ 
pation  l)y  our  naval  forces.  The  Dominican  Pe- 
puhlic  covers  about  two-thirds  of  the  Island  of 
Santo  Domingo,  and  has  an  expanse  of  territory 
a  little  larger  than  Connecticut,  Delaware,  iMassa- 
chusetts.  New  Ilamjishire  and  \"ermont  coml)ined, 
and  is  seven  times  larger  than  Porto  Pico.  Its 
population  is  about  three-quarters  of  a  million. 

15 


There  is  very  little  Protestant  work  being  done, 
and  the  Lutheran  Church  should  be  planted  here, 
that  it  iiiight  assist  in  rescuing  from  degradation 
and  vice  the  countless  thousands  who  know  not  the 
Gospel.  There  is  every  reason  why  the  oldest 
Protestant  Church  should  be  represented  in  Santo 
Domingo  City,  the  oldest  city  in  the  Xew  World. 

“And  a  little  child  shall  lead  them.” 


Childhood  extending  the  hand  of  Christian  Fellowship. 


Harlem,  New  York.  City.  When  the  Board’s 
Commissioners  visited  the  West  Indies,  they  were 
constantly  petitioned  to  do  something  for  the  West 
Indians  in  Xew  York  City.  Evidence  was  pro¬ 
duced  indicating  that  of  the  many  hundreds  who 
had  gone  to  Xew  York  City  within  the  memory 
of  the  jiresent  generation,  very  few  had  been  able 
to  surmount  the  obstacles  of  language  and  race 
that  barred  them  from  the  established  Lutheran 
churclics  of  Xew  York.  The  matter  was  carefully 
considered  by  the  Board,  which  felt  that  it  was 
obligated  by  the  duties  imposed  liy  its  Constitution 
to  undertake  the  care  of  these  peojile.  After  noti¬ 
fying  the  Home  ^Mission  Board,  the  field  was 
investigated,  and  from  the  very  beginning  the 
work  has  grown  by  leaps  and  bounds. 

Although  worshiping  in  a  small  hall,  kindly 
furnished  by  the  Colored  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  the  Sunday 
School  lieing  held  at  seven  o’clock  at  night  and  the 
Church  service  at  eight,  nevertheless,  in  less  than 
a  year’s  time  a  congregation  has  been  established 
that  numbers  IGS  communicant  members.  The 
average  Sunday  attendance  at  Church  has  reached 
150,  and  the  Sunday  School  over  100.  The  con¬ 
tributions  for  the  first  year  were  more  than  ^LvOO, 
and  the  first  confirmation  class  numbered  fourteen. 
This  work  is  under  the  personal  care  of  the  K.vecu- 


16 


tive  Secretary,  the  Eev.  Z.  M.  Corbe,  assisted  by 
]\Ir.  Paul  E.  West,  who  while  preparing  for  the 
ministry  is  taking  a  special  course  at  W^agner 
Memorial  Lutheran  College. 

The  problem  of  securing  property  for  this  con¬ 
gregation  is  very  great,  since  it  is  located  in  Man¬ 
hattan,  Xew  York  City,  where  real  estate  is  the 
most  expensive  in  the  world,  but  our  Church  would 
be  guilty  of  a  grave  error  if  it  failed  to  take  advan¬ 
tage  of  this  o])portunity  to  plant  the  faith  in  the 
greatest  and  wealthiest  Yegro  city  in  the  world. 
In  connection  v'ith  this  congregation  there  is  an 
opportunity  for  the  largest  Inner  Mission  work 
among  other  races  that  was  ever  offered  the  Luth¬ 
eran  Church  in  civilized  countries.  No  finer 
memorial  could  be  erected  than  an  equipment  for 
this  work,  the  wonderful  influence  of  which  would 
make  the  donor’s  name  known  far  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  United  Lutheran  Church. 

Survey.  The  Washington  Convention  instructed 
the  AVest  Indies  ]\Iission  Board  to  make  a  complete 
survey  of  the  possibilities  for  work  among  the 
more  than  fourteen  million  Negroes  in  America. 
Preparations  are  under  way  to  do  this  in  a  most 
thorough  manner,  and  the  results  of  the  survey 
will  be  presented  to  the  Church  through  such  chan¬ 
nels  as  may  awaken  our  people  to  a  full  realization 
that  at  our  very  doors  are  immense  untouched 
fields,  Avhite  unto  the  harvest. 

Help  Wanted.  Although  the  Board  is  in  no 
financial  position  to  call  additional  workers,  the 
fact  remains  that  there  is  a  great  and  pressing 
need  for  more  laborers  in  the  West  Indies  field. 
An  ordained  minister  of  some  pastoral  experience 
and  filled  with  missionary  zeal  is  desired.  A 
Christian  physician  Avho  is  more  concerned  about 
helping  his  fellow-men  than  securing  financial  re¬ 
turns  is  needed  for  a  section  of  our  field  where 
many  hundreds  die  every  year  without  medical 
attention.  Also,  a  Deaconess  with  knowledge  of 
nursing  and  sanitation  is  most  urgently  needed 
at  once. 

In  addition  to  the  living  voice,  there  is  great 
need  for  the  message  on  the  printed  page.  The 
dearth  of  religious  literature  in  the  Spanish  lan¬ 
guage  is  most  deplorable,  and  every  Protestant 
church  must  do  its  share  towards  supplying  the 
need.  This  year  our  Board  is  issuing  the  colored 
picture  cards  of  the  Sunday  School  system  in 
Spanish.  Over  516,000  cards  were  printed,  at  an 
expense  of  about  $1,500,  but  it  is  an  expenditure 
that  will  bring  big  returns.  No  better  service 
could  be  rendered  the  whole  Christian  Church  than 
the  publication  of  some  of  our  evangelical  litera¬ 
ture  in  the  Spanish  language. 


17 


WHERE  THE  :\IOXEY  COMES  FROM 


The  Boards  that  were  merged  into  the  West  Indies 
Mission  Board  had  obligations  requiring  an  income  of 
$45,000  annually.  The  increased  cost  of  traveling  by 
steamship  and  railroad,  the  importance  of  adding  to  the 
very  inade(juate  salaries  of  the  missionaries  now  in 
service,  as  well  as  the  expense  involved  in  reinforcing 
our  overliurdencd  mission  forces  on  the  field,  together 
with  the  cost  of  the  work  in  Harlem,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  expenses  involved  in  the  expansion  of  onr  opera¬ 
tions.  make  necessary  the  annual  income  of  $()(), 000 
granted  in  the  apportionment  of  the  United  Lutheran 
Church. 

During  the  period  elapsing  between  the  merger  and 
the  Washington  Convention,  our  Board  received  on  ap¬ 
portionments  the  sum  of  .$40,004 ;  from  the  Augustana 
Synod,  $4, (ill ;  from  the  Women’s  Missionary  Societies 
and  the  direct  contributions  of  churches  and  individuals, 
$4,2:54;  from  balances  on  hand  and  other  sources,  $:5,185; 
from  the  grants  from  the  Danish  Xational  Church, 
$13,081;  from  the  value  of  Christmas  boxes  and  supplies 
sent  to  the  field  for  the  charitable  homes,  amounting  to 
$2,300,  supplemented  by  personal  gifts  to  the  mission¬ 
aries  from  relatives  and  friends  of  over  $1,500.  In 
addition  the  Board  was  compelled  to  make  loans  aggre¬ 
gating  $31,()00  in  order  to  meet  its  expenditures  of  over 
$100,000. 

^\'e  desire  at  this  time  to  bear  testimony  to  the  gen¬ 
erous  support  of  the  Women’s  ^Missionary  Society,  whose 
grants  liave  enal)led  us  to  carry  on  work  which  neither 
the  ap])ortionment  nor  the  additional  gifts  of  friends 
would  have  permitted  us  to  continue. 

Record  should  also  l)e  made  of  the  large  contributions 
from  the  Swedish  ATigustana  Synod,  which  has  continued 
its  liberal  sup])ort  since  the  merger.  This  Synod  is  in 
direct  touch  with  the  work  through  its  representatives 
on  our  Board  and  those  missionaries  on  the  field  who 
hold  membership  in  that  body. 

CHRISTMAS  BOXES  AXD  SUPPLIES.  Although 
not  coming  under  the  head  of  money,  yet  so  much  is 
saved  by  the  contributions  of  Christmas  l)oxes  and 
supplies  for  the  charitable  institutions  that  these  items 
should  l)c  mentioned  in  connection  with  our  income. 
Christmas  l)oxes  have  been  sent  for  many  years  and 
have  lieen  a  source  of  much  anticipation,  especially 
among  the  children,  many  of  whom  do  not  know  what 
it  is  to  possess  a  toy.  ’Fhese  boxes  are  packed  annually 
in  X"ew  York  City  under  the  supervision  of  ^liss  Etta 
Fackiner.  For  the  helpless  infants  and  the  old  folks 
in  our  charitable  institutions,  hundreds  of  garments  are 
required  every  year.  During  the  last  year  the  Young 
People’s  Societies,  as  well  as  the  Women’s  Missionary 
Societies,  have  gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  Deaconesses 
with  bountiful  su])plies,  saving  hundreds  of  dollars  to 
the  Church.  Xo  shipments  sliould  be  made,  however, 
without  first  writing  the  Executive  Secretary,  inasmuch 
as  conditions  change  so  rapidly  that  instructions  are 
necessary  for  every  new  consignment. 

DRCAXIZATIOX' 

The  West  Indies  ^Mission  Board  is  incorporated  under 
the  ^Membership  Cor])oration  Law  of  the  State  of  Xcw 
York,  and  by  action  of  the  I’nited  Lutheran  Church, 
has  its  headcpiarters  in  X’ew  York  City,  Through  the 
courtesy  of  the  Xational  Lutheran  Commission,  Room 
1)04  of  the  Knabe  Building  was  secured.  This  is  in 
connection  with  the  United  Lutheran  Church  oHices  at 
437  Fifth  Avenue,  Xew  York  City. 


18 


At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  after  the  merger, 
an  Executive  Secretary  was  called  in  the  iJerson  of  the 
Rev.  Z.  M.  Corbe,  who  accepted  the  call,  subject  to  an 
agreement  whereby  he  could  continue  as  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Transfiguration,  Philadelphia.  In  addi¬ 
tion  to  the  duties  as  Executive  Secretary,  he  has  also 
been  given,  temporarily,  the  duties  of  Superintendent, 
visiting  the  field  each  year.  Since  the  establishment  of 
the  work  in  Harlem,  New  York  City,  he  has,  in  addition 
to  preaching  in  Philadelphia  each  Sunday  morning, 
preached  in  New  York  City  every  Sunday  evening. 

THE  BOARD.  The  membership  is  at  present  consti¬ 
tuted  as  follows:  Rev.  E.  Belfour,  D.D.,  Zelienople,  Pa.; 
M.  S.  Boyer,  M.D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Rev.  F.  B. 
Clausen,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Mr.  A.  H.  Durburrow,  Nar- 
berth.  Pa.;  Rev.  W.  J.  Finck,  D.D.,  New  Market,  Va. ; 
Rev.  C.  A.  Freed,  D.D.,  Columbia,  S.  C.;  Mr.  C.  W. 
Fuhr,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  Mr.  R.  E.  Gaskell,  New  York 
City,  N.  Y. ;  Rev.  B.  F.  Hankey,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  Rev. 
H.  W.  A.  Hanson,  D.D.,  Harrisburg,  Pa. ;  Mr.  H.  F. 
Heuer,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Rev.  A.  J.  Holl,  Columbus,  0. ; 
Rev.  W.  M.  Horn,  Ithaca,  N.  Y"^.;  Rev.  J.  H.  Meyer, 
Jersey  City,  N.  J. ;  E.  J.  Mosser,  Esq.,  Chicago,  Ill.; 
Mr.  Clillord  Rockwell,  Utica,  IST.  Y.;  Rev.  W.  C. 
Schaeffer,  Jr.,  Allentown,  Pa.;  Rev.  J.  J.  Scherer,  D.D., 
Richmond,  Va. ;  Mr.  H.  M.  Schmitt,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. ; 
]\Ir.  S.  F.  Telleen,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.  Representing 
Augustana  Synod:  Rev.  P.  J.  O.  Cornell,  D.D.,  South 
IManchester,  Conn. ;  Rev.  J.  Alfred  Anderson,  D.D., 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Representing  Women’s  Missionary  So¬ 
ciety;  Mrs.  F.  F.  Fry,  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Mrs.  J.  D. 
Jorgensen,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.  The  Rev.  F.  H.  Bosch, 
New  York  City,  has  been  nominated  to  fill  the  present 
vacancy. 

Officers:  President,  Rev.  H.  W.  A.  Hanson,  D.D.; 
Vice-President,  Rev.  C.  A.  Freed,  D.D.;  Secretary,  Mr. 
H.  F.  Heuer;  Treasurer,  Mr.  S.  F.  Telleen;  Executive 
Secretary,  Rev.  Zenan  M.  Corbe. 

The  Board  of  Directors  (Executive  Committee)  :  Rev. 
H.  W.  A.  Hanson,  U.U.,  Rev.  C.  A.  Freed,  D.D.,  Mr. 
H.  F.  Heuer,  Rev.  F.  B.  Clausen,  Mr.  R.  E.  Gaskell,  Rev. 
W.  C.  Schaeffer,  Jr.,  Mr.  S.  F.  Telleen. 

It  was  with  regret  that  the 
Board  was  compelled  to  accept 
the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 

W.  D.  C.  Keiter,  our  first  Presi¬ 
dent,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  F.  F. 

Fry,  both  of  whom  were  elected 
to  the  Executive  Board  of  the 
United  Lutheran  Church.  By 
suitable  resolution  the  Board 
gave  testimony  of  its  apprecia¬ 
tion  of  the  wise,  earnest  and 
faithful  service  of  Dr.  Keiter  in 
the  organization  of  the  Board 
and  during  its  first  years  of 
existence. 


All  inquiries  concerning  any  matter  con¬ 
nected  with  this  report  should  be  addressed 
to  the  Executive  Secretary  of  the  West  Indies 
Mission  Board,  Room  904,  437  Fifth  Avenue, 
New  York  City. 


19 


Turning  on  the  Searchlight 


Are  You  Satisfied  W Ttii  The 
Result?  \^e  Can  Chaage  it. 


